Dear Family in Christ,
I am writing to you out of great concern for the nation of the Philippines following the devastation resulting from Typhoon Haiyan. While all of our clergy have made it safely through the storm, thanks be to God, the devastation in several areas of the central islands is extensive. Places like Tacloban City, Leyte, and Samar have been front and center on most of the newscasts and these areas have been devastated. Immediate aid and relief will soon reach most areas devastated by the storm. In the next few weeks these international relief efforts will lessen as the next crisis in the world draws attention away from the Philippines, leaving residents and local communities to rebuild lives and livelihoods devastated by the storm on their own.
Bishop Belmonte’s concern is for the long-term rebuilding of communities -lesser known places such as Curon Palawan, Aklan, Cebu, Negros and Iloilo. It is his plan to minister in these areas to help individual families and churches who were most affected by the storm. The focus will be on our churches and church families in those communities.
I am asking that you prayerfully consider helping in this important outreach effort as Bishop Belmonte, his clergy and other members of our Anglican Church in the Philippines demonstrate the love of Christ by helping people and communities to rebuild their lives both physically and spiritually.
The ACA is joining us in these efforts and will be raising funds for this effort through their missions organization -The International Anglican Fellowship.
Please pray every day for these efforts and especially for Bishop Belmonte and his clergy as well as the people of the Philippines as they struggle to rebuild their lives and their livelihoods and that through these efforts we will spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and build God’s kingdom in these areas.
Checks should be made payable to your local church with a notation in the memo field “Philippines Disaster Relief.” We ask each church treasurer to combine the checks and send one church check to the APA Treasurer* designated for the Philippines Disaster Relief.
* D. J. Fulton
APA Treasurer
9489 Brown Road
Jonesboro
GA 30238
Remembering that in all things, He is able, I remain faithfully yours,
Fr. David Haines, Vicar General for Global Partnerships, APA
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